Middle East

Business

Eastman Chemical Navigates Market Headwinds, Pins Hopes on Operational Shifts and Circular Economy

While outlining stabilization efforts in challenged segments like Fibers, Eastman Chemical's leadership emphasized that a sustained recovery hinges on broader end-market demand. The company is betting on strategic projects and chemical recycling to drive future growth amid persistent pricing pressures and global trade dynamics.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Eastman Chemical Navigates Earnings Slump with Deep Cuts and Bet on Advanced Recycling

Facing its weakest annual profit in years, Eastman Chemical is doubling down on cost reductions while banking on its molecular recycling technology to fuel a turnaround by 2026, despite a challenging global economic climate.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Mine Collapse in Eastern Congo Claims Over 200 Lives, Exposing Perils of Artisanal Coltan Mining

A catastrophic landslide at a major coltan mine in rebel-held eastern Congo has killed hundreds of informal miners, casting a harsh light on the deadly human cost behind the global tech supply chain.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Boko Haram Attack Claims 25 Lives in Northeast Nigeria, Marking Deadliest Assault Since U.S. Christmas Strikes

Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 25 laborers in an attack on a town in Nigeria's Borno state, relatives and local officials confirm, in the bloodiest reported Islamist assault since late December.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

LifeSci Capital Boosts Price Target on Olema Pharmaceuticals, Citing Promising Breast Cancer Drug Pipeline

LifeSci Capital reaffirms its Buy rating on Olema Pharmaceuticals (OLMA) and raises its price target to $45, following bullish analyst sentiment on the company's lead drug candidate, Palazestrant, for ER+/HER2- breast cancer.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Northeast Bank's Loan Surge and New SMB Product Spark Investor Debate Amid Rising Charge-Offs

Northeast Bank's Q2 2026 results reveal a bank in transition: record loan growth and a promising new small business product are countered by rising charge-offs and a token dividend, leaving analysts divided on its investment narrative.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Tarabut Bolsters Open Banking Platform with Strategic Acquisition of AI Firm Servable

Bahrain's Tarabut, a regulated open banking platform, acquires AI engineering specialist Servable to embed advanced financial AI capabilities—from risk assessment to fraud detection—directly into its infrastructure for banks and fintechs across the Middle East.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Palantir Cements AI Ambitions with Major Korean Industrial Deal and European Sovereign AI Infrastructure Project

Palantir Technologies expands its strategic footprint in Asia through a deepened partnership with HD Hyundai, while securing a pivotal role in building sovereign AI data centers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with Sovereign AI and Accenture.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Geopolitical Tensions Fuel Oil Surge, Adding Pressure to Bitcoin's Struggles

As crude prices spike on Middle East tensions, fears of reignited inflation and subsequent Fed action cast a shadow over risk assets, with Bitcoin failing to capitalize on its perceived 'safe-haven' narrative.

Jan 31, 2026

World

Damascus and Kurdish Forces Strike Landmark Deal to Reintegrate Northeast Syria

After years of de facto autonomy, Syria's Kurdish-led administration and military forces have agreed to a phased reintegration into the state, a move hailed by Washington as historic but met with caution on the ground.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

HSBC Upgrades Grab to Buy, Sees Over 45% Upside as Southeast Asia's Super App Gains Traction

HSBC has upgraded Grab Holdings from Hold to Buy with a $6.20 price target, citing attractive valuation and intact growth drivers. The stock, already on some 'best buy' lists, has surged nearly 5% this week, with Wall Street analysts forecasting significant upside ahead of its Q4 earnings report.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Syrian Government Security Forces Enter Key Northeastern City Under Landmark Deal with Kurdish-Led SDF

In a significant step toward reconciliation, Syrian interior ministry forces entered the Kurdish-administered city of al-Hassakeh on Monday. The move, part of a fragile new agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces, aims to cement a ceasefire and outlines a path for the integration of Kurdish-led institutions into the state's security and administrative framework.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Russian Forces Advance in Eastern Ukraine, Seize Three Villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia

Russian troops have taken control of three villages across Ukraine's Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, according to a Defense Ministry statement reported by state media. The latest gains come amid intensified fighting along the front lines.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Shifts Propel Oil Past $70, Challenging Glut Narrative

Brent crude surged above $70 a barrel for the first time since mid-2025, driven by escalating Middle East tensions and shifting supply dynamics, as analysts signal a fading bearish outlook for the oil market.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Digital Realty Expands Southeast Asia Footprint, Inks Major Supply Deal to Fuel AI Infrastructure Push

Digital Realty Trust makes a strategic entry into Malaysia with the acquisition of the TelcoHub 1 data center and secures a critical $373 million supply agreement with Schneider Electric, positioning itself to capture surging demand for AI-ready infrastructure in the region.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Syrian Government Troops Advance on Kurdish-Held Hasakah Under Fragile U.S.-Brokered Truce

A convoy of Syrian government forces was observed moving toward the strategic northeastern city of Hasakah on Monday, implementing a ceasefire agreement that aims to reintegrate Kurdish-administered territories with Damascus.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Abu Dhabi's Ruya Partners Seeks $400 Million for Major Gulf Private Credit Fund

Backed by regional sovereign wealth giants, Ruya Partners is launching a $400 million fund to address middle-market lending gaps in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, positioning itself as a key player in the Gulf's burgeoning private credit landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

HSBC Doubles Down on Hong Kong Investment Banking Amid Strategic Pivot

HSBC Holdings is aggressively rebuilding its investment banking operations in Hong Kong and key Asian hubs, reallocating senior talent and capital to capture growth in IPOs and capital markets, as its strategic focus shifts decisively eastward.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

China's Pork Palate Shifts: Nostalgia and Premium Demand Drive Black Hog Revival

As China's pork industry grapples with overcapacity and falling prices, a growing appetite for premium, flavorful black pork among the middle class is offering a lifeline to farmers and reshaping market strategies.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Palantir Expands Industrial and Sovereign AI Footprint with HD Hyundai Partnership and EMEA Data Center Role

Palantir Technologies strengthens its position in industrial digital transformation and secure AI infrastructure through a broadened partnership with South Korea's HD Hyundai and a new role in developing sovereign AI data centers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Jan 31, 2026